Key Economic Indicators – August 27, 2012

  • New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 4.2% in July, following a 1.6% increase in the previous month. Shipments increased 2.6% in July, while inventories increased 0.7%.
  • July existing home sales increased 2.3% to an annualized rate of 4,470 thousand units. The July figure was 10.4% above the July 2011 figure. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $187.3 thousand, 9.4% above July 2011.
  • July new home sales increased 3.6% to an annualized rate of 372 thousand units. The July figure was 25.3% above the July 2011 figure. The median sales price of new houses sold was $224.2 thousand, 2.5% below the July 2011 figure.
  • The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 3.66% for the week ending August 23, up from the previous week when it averaged 3.62%.
  • The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 4 thousand to 372 thousand in the week ending August 18.

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